This City In North Carolina Was One Of The Most Dangerous Places In The Nation In 1979
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Robin Jarvis
Author
On November 3, 1979 the Communist Workers Party staged a demonstration parade in downtown Greensboro. The parade was a rally called “Death to the Klan,” in which they hoped to chase the KKK out of town. Their efforts were thought to involve intentions to help workers of color in the local textile manufacturing facilities achieve some equality and improved working conditions.
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The event has been dubbed The Greensboro Massacre and has weighed heavily upon the City of Greensboro in recent years. That's because after two separate trials by all white juries in the 1980s, the six men (reported KKK members) accused of the killings were all acquitted in both trials.
Furthermore, opinions began to circulate that City Hall and the Greensboro Police Department reportedly did very little to keep the rally in line, especially since they knew the propaganda set forth by the Communist Workers Party was calling for violence. Some reports indicate that when the Police Department handed over the approved parade route to the KKK, they suggested they (the KKK) come armed.
Over the last several years, and nearly 40 years after the incident, The City of Greensboro has attempted to bring closure to the mistakes of this violent clash on their streets. In 2009, City Council issued a statement of regret. In 2015, they unveiled a historical marker. And in August of 2017, shortly after the unfathomable events that took place in Charlottesville, The City of Greensboro issued a formal statement of regret that they did not do more to stop the events that unfolded on that fateful day in 1979.
Below is a short documentary featuring statements from a survivor of the march. Warning: the end of this video (at approximately the 4:30 time stamp) contains graphic footage of some of the shootout. The video is from YouTube user Daniel Spiller.
Do you recall this dark time in the history of North Carolina? We'd love to hear your thoughts!
Furthermore, opinions began to circulate that City Hall and the Greensboro Police Department reportedly did very little to keep the rally in line, especially since they knew the propaganda set forth by the Communist Workers Party was calling for violence. Some reports indicate that when the Police Department handed over the approved parade route to the KKK, they suggested they (the KKK) come armed.
Over the last several years, and nearly 40 years after the incident, The City of Greensboro has attempted to bring closure to the mistakes of this violent clash on their streets. In 2009, City Council issued a statement of regret. In 2015, they unveiled a historical marker. And in August of 2017, shortly after the unfathomable events that took place in Charlottesville, The City of Greensboro issued a formal statement of regret that they did not do more to stop the events that unfolded on that fateful day in 1979.
Below is a short documentary featuring statements from a survivor of the march. Warning: the end of this video (at approximately the 4:30 time stamp) contains graphic footage of some of the shootout. The video is from YouTube user Daniel Spiller.
Do you recall this dark time in the history of North Carolina? We'd love to hear your thoughts!
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